YouTube tries live video streaming

IT’S one small step for YouTube, but it could be a giant leap for internet TV&colon; this week, the firm began trialling live broadcasting.

The website has occasionally offered live TV before – including US president Barack Obama’s first State of the Union address – but using third-party technology.

The two-day-long exercise was described as “an initial trial, a first step” by YouTube product manager Josh Siegel. Still, a study by internet marketing research company ComScore shows there’s an appetite&colon; last year there was a 648 per cent surge in the amount of time Americans devoted to watching live streamed video on other websites.

Google TV is also launching in the US in the next few weeks. It aims to integrate full web access and search features into home television packages.

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